Ciao from I T A L Y!!
We are finally here!! It feels like forever since we started this whole process, but we made it.
Updates since my last blog post:
-We sold our dining room table
-We sold my car (in less than 5 days!)
-We sold our house (in less than a month)
-We packed up our luggage and all four of us hopped on a plane to Sicily.
Bye, Virginia Beach and 1812 (our lovely first home!!)
The night of our arrival, we were able to go straight into our new home thanks to our awesome sponsors (seriously, they are so awesome).
We LOVE our new home. It’s bright and beautiful and we can’t wait until all of our things arrive so we can fully furnish it. Right now, we are just using loaner furniture. Hopefully our car and household goods will be arriving in the next few months (IKR?!)
The kitchen, dining room, living room, and laundry room are all on one floor.
Upstairs holds three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
We also have closets that are too tall for us to reach (not ideal for shorties like me!!) And, two sets of French doors that open to our quaint little yard THAT HAS A LEMON TREE!!!
Oh, and a view of volcano Mt. Etna….
Overall, our digs ain’t too bad!! What do you think?
Marissa and her family were my very first (non-family) clients EVER! So, I was really honored when she asked me to shoot Carter’s 1st Birthday photos. It has honestly been so much fun watching Carter grow though out his first year, I couldn’t wait to see what big boy outfits he would bring along for his session. I have to say, he’s one of the cutest one-year old’s I’ve seen. And he certainly loved the cake!!
Thank you again, Marissa, for entrusting me with your baby’s FIRST birthday photos! I love you cherish them for all the years to come!
Well, this update is a bit overdue. I have been MIA for a bit ever since our big announcement, but that’s because I have been just a tiny bit busy. And, because I couldn’t figure out how to operate my laptop – but that’s neither here nor there.
We shipped our car a little more than two weeks ago (it feels like it’s been an eternity). I’m not sure if you’ve ever shipped a car overseas, but there are quite a few regulations you have to meet including: no leaks, no cracks in the windshield, no recalls, clean car inside and out (which was pretty difficult with all of the snow we were getting at that time), and less than a quarter tank of gas at the time of turn in. Long story short – don’t accidentally overfill your tank before shipping 🙂 . Trying to get the gas out of a car is like watching a pot when you want it to boil. Three hours of me driving around town the morning of our appointment and somehow we made it happen! See ya in Italy, Mini Cooper.
The pack out for our home was this past week. It was a crazy time with three movers, two dogs, and us running around going “pack THIS, not THAT,” but somehow we managed to get it all done. Now we are left with a kitchen table (that we will eventually sell), an air mattress, and four luggages worth of stuff. With only less than two weeks left before the move, it’s starting to get real!! And, also a little bit stinky, because let’s be honest, I have very few clothing options!!
Here are some photos from the pack-out:
The question “what should I wear?” is definitely something I get asked all the time! In December, I posted some general beauty tips to assist you in answering a lesser thought about portion of this question. Today, I am going to talk one of the more common potions – styling and attire!
As I mentioned in the first part of this series, these tips don’t apply to professional shoots only – you can totally use these for selfies!
Check out my top N I N E style tips below!
9. Pick colors that reflect your vibe.
I often recommend lighter, more neutral colors to clients. Colors such as muted tans, heather grays, subdued blues, or soft pinks, help to bring more of the focus to your face than those that are bold or bright. Think of someone wearing a neon shirt – it’s going to be much harder to focus on their face! Neutrals also have the benefit of coordinating well with almost any environment.
8. Watch out for tiny patterns.
Tiny patterns such as pinstripes do not show up well on camera. They actually can look kind of funky in photographs, so this is something I’d definitely recommend skipping, even if you love them! They just won’t show up well on camera, and you’ll miss out on that wow-factor that is present in-person.
If there will be multiple people in the photo, and one of them is planning to wear a pattern, the other person should be dressed in a solid, coordinating color. Wait! What does “coordinating” mean? Well, look no further than…
7. Coordinate, don’t match!
Matching is an instance where you are both wearing the same “main” color. Don’t do it!! Coordinating is much more flattering. To coordinate, you want to ensure you are not wearing the same “main” color on the top or bottom as the other people in your photo (think different color shirts from one another AND different color pants, skits, etc.). If you are taking a photo solo, then this applies to coordinating your accessories. Each person should wear a different “main color,” but the same “supplemental color(s).”
For instance, if I wear a light mint green dress with nude heels, my husband could wear a navy polo with tan pants. Here, my “main color” is mint, my husband’s is navy and the supplemental color (that we are both wearing) is nude/tan.
However, varying shades of the same color does count as coordinating (see below).
6. Texturize!
I’m talking sequins, lace, fur, tulle! The addition of textures into your attire can enhance your photos by giving them more depth.
5. Don’t forget about accessories!
Hats, scarves, statement jewelry, earrings, belts, bracelets, etc. These are the little details that really enhance your style. Accessorizing gives you an extra added pop and helps to finish off your look.
4. Choose clothes that flatter your best features.
Self-conscious about a certain part of your body? I think we all are! Select an outfit that flatters your body type, not just the latest trend. Outfits with some fabric on the arms creates a slimming effect, whereas strapless tops do not. Likewise, heels help to elongate the leg. Dresses and skirts, especially floor length, flatter every female body. Concurrently, pants flatter all men.
3. Don’t be afraid to dress up.
Feel like you don’t really have an occasion to get “fancy?” Here you go! It may initially feel like it’s “too much” if it’s not your usual style, but go for the elaborate dress or dapper suit! This is a situation in which you can never be too dressed up.
2. Consult/hire a professional hair and make-up artist!
I know… we’ve already talked about this one. But it’s just so important, I couldn’t leave it out!!
1. Be yourself!!
If wearing a dress isn’t really you, don’t wear a dress! Photos should capture the uniqueness of YOU!
Yes, you read that right. We are moving!! And, what’s more, we are moving to ITALY!!
Making the decision to move out of the Virginia Beach area was a HUGE decision, as we have a home and steady jobs here. Moving out of the country, however, is maybe borderline crazy. But, we are SO excited for the adventure!
So, what does that mean for Mandalyn Renee Photography? Well, it will stay, but with an extra added element…a travel and living abroad aspect. The blog will slowly shift over the start of 2018 to more of a personal blog, incorporating both the move, travel, and photography. My husband will be joining in on more of the blogging action and it will become more of a joint venture.
We are SO excited to see what 2018 will bring. We hope you’ll stick around with us to see how it goes!! Make sure you subscribe for blog updates!!
People always ask me about what to wear to their photo session, but they rarely inquire about beauty tips (i.e. how they should style their hair and make-up). Professional hair and make-up is always on the top of my list as a photographer and as a client myself. Not only does it look amazing on camera, but having your hair and make-up done for you feels AMAZING! Seriously. You will walk away feeling like a million bucks!
Recently, I had my own hair and make-up session with Jess Barbini of Jess Barbini Hair & Makeup Artistry (catch her on IG here). She is such an incredible hair and make-up artist and has seriously changed my life with her remarkable make over skills. As she was prepping me for my photo shoot, I asked her if she would mind sharing some beauty tips for general photo session prep.
Here are a few words of advice from Jess:
General Beauty Tips:
• Whiten Teeth
• Wax eyebrows at least 3 days prior
• Exfoliate 1-2 days prior
• Get a manicure
• Skip the spray tan
• Hydrate – drink lots of water!
• Prevent inflammation – Place an ice pack on eyes before sleep
• Get 8 hours of sleep
Why Hire a Hair and Make-Up Artist?
• Treat yourself!
• One less thing to worry about – Helps de-stress
• Look your best
• Professionals know how to prepare you to be in front of the camera.
• Confidence. It’s always the best accessory.
Check out my final look:
I absolutely recommend hiring a professional hair and make-up artist when investing in photos you’ll cherish forever. I personally never book a professional session without one!
A few weeks ago, Nik, Kaitlin, and I dropped in at Red Wing Park in Virginia Beach for an impromptu photo session. Nik + Kaitlin are such naturals in front of the camera, that they made my job SUPER easy! While we were there, someone asked if they had just gotten engaged… which was quite funny because they have been married for around F I V E years already! Can you believe it? The park closed an hour earlier than we thought, so we made a quick trip to the oceanfront for some real sunset magic. Take a peek at all the fun we had below.
Thanks for hanging out, Nik + Kaitlin!
When I think about someone with a *sparkling* personality, I think of Katie. Katie has the most infectious smile and coolest style. So, when she asked me to photograph her Baby-Q (coolest, barbecue for a baby EVER), I was SO pumped! Bri, Katie’s sorority sister and close friend, was the lovely hostess for the evening, and she did an absolutely fabulous job. From the decor to the food and games, this shower was one for the books!! And, just in case you’re wondering who that gorgeous curly-haired cutie down below is, well, that’s their “first baby,” Neyland.
Only F I V E more weeks until Joel and Katie meet baby Truett! I could not be more excited for them. Thanks for having me!
I honestly have no idea how many sleepovers I had with Ashley, but it was a lot. I remember camping out in her living room floor in middle school, watching scary snowman movies, and buying jumbo size jawbreakers from the mall candy shop. It’s crazy how time flys. One moment you are having pillow fights and sleepovers and the next moment you have a little family all your own! It’s been quite a few year since I lived in my hometown, but when Ashley contacted me about photographing her family, I jumped at the chance to come back. It was just like the old days. She hasn’t changed one bit! And her family… well, they are absolutely adorable!! And just as much fun as she is.
Last month, I wrapped up my first year of my 30’s! Who would I be not to commemorate this milestone with a mini birthday shoot? If you know me, you know that doughnuts are my FAVORITE!!! My original idea was just to snap ONE photo with my festive birthday doughnut….
But Chalupa had other plans….. Chalupa is my shadow. She also loves consuming (fruits, veggies, sticks, grass, coins…). You name it, she will eat it. So, of course where there are doughnuts there is a Chalupa saying, “Mom, feed me!! Please!!” Thanks to my sweet husband for snapping one… or ten shots for me 😉
